Anti-Media Law: Leave us Out — Imo Lawmakers

The controversial anti-media Bill, which has scaled the second reading in the Imo State House of Assembly, may have hit a brick wall, as some of the alleged co-sponsors have distanced themselves from the process.

However, contrary to the content of the draft copy of the Bill, some of the alleged co-sponsors have distanced themselves from the document, when Vanguard sought to know their position on the Bill.

Although the lawmakers opted to speak incognito, they were however, in agreement that the Deputy Speaker acted alone.

“Honestly, I am not part of this plot to gag the press in Imo. I never knew about the Bill or acquiesced to being a co-sponsor. The spirit behind the Bill is obnoxious and should not find any place in a democracy”, the lawmaker said.

While wondering why anybody should, through the legislature, stop the free flow of information in Imo State, the lawmaker equally reasoned that “if passed into law, it will provide a very fertile ground for bad governance”.

Some others, who were reached on their mobile telephone lines, also denied knowledge of the conception and presentation of the Bill.

Asked to explain how and why their names were surreptitiously included as co-sponsors, one of the respondents said: “The chief sponsor may have done it in good faith but I expect that since the Bill is generating a lot of heat, Ozuruigbo will take another look at the document and possibly retrace his locus”.

Answering another question, the lawmaker wondered how anybody can fight the media and successfully come out of the battle unscathed.

“Can we, in all honesty, engage the media in a battle and come out of it unscathed? My dear, I am not party to this contraption”, the lawmaker said.